Roberts & Šrámková Claim Inaugural European Cup U23 Titles

England's Dylan Roberts and Karolína Šrámková of Czechia were crowned inaugural European Squash Cup U23 champions after two classic finals at Olaias Club in Lisbon on Sunday.

A brand new addition to the European Squash Federation calendar, the European Squash Cup U23 supports 19-22-year-old players transitioning from the junior circuit to the professional tour - addressing a long-standing gap in the player development pathway.

The event offered $2,000 prize money for men and women, and PSA ranking points for all participants.

Facing top-seeded Dutchman Rowan Damming in a high-class men's final, reigning British junior champion Roberts blasted out of the blocks to take the opening game 11-4.

The second was tighter, with former World Junior Championship winner Damming taking it 11-8, but Roberts blitzed his way through the third 11-2 to seize a 2/1 advantage.

Second seed Roberts, who only turned 19 in July, was two points away from the title at 9-9 in the fourth but amid a flurry of long, high-quality rallies, it was Damming who held his nerve to take it 11-9.

A Damming dive (in vain) at 6-4 down to retrieve a deep forehand resulted in physio treatment and a hiatus in the action. A bizarre bounce off the door handle, then a tinned boast both favoured Roberts, who closed out the match 11-4, 8-11, 11-2, 9-11, 11-7.

Earlier, Sramkova, the three-time Czech national champion, was forced to dig very deep after falling two games down to 3/4 seed Ellie Breach of Wales in the women's final.

In the first, Breach raced into an 8-1 lead. Several errors allowed 19-year-old Sramkova to close the gap somewhat, but she couldn't prevent the opener slipping away 11-8.

The second was tighter, reaching 5-5, before Breach again put a crucial run of points together to reach game ball at 10-7. Although the Czech saved a couple, a forehand volley kill secured Breach a 2/0 lead.

Sramkova regrouped and took the third 11/6, then after just one point of the fourth game, Breach had to have lengthy treatment on a blood injury on her knee. Sramkova looked far the more fluent of the two by this stage and slotted four accurate drop shots in a row to take it 11-7 and level the match.

The fifth was tight until 8-7, when Sramkova won the last three points rapidly, throwing her racket into the tin in delight.

England's Oliver Tate, the world no.267, won the men's bronze medal after a hard-fought 8-11, 13-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6 victory over fellow 3/4 seed Rory Richmond of Scotland.

Rose Lucas-Marcuzzo of France, a 3/4 seed, took home the women's bronze medal after defeating England's 5/8 seed Isabel McCullough 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7.